King joins William and Kate at Buckingham Palace reception for world leaders ahead of coronation
The King has hosted heads of state from around the world at a Buckingham Palace reception on the eve of the coronation.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence also greeted overseas dignitaries at the event.
Among the royal contingent were the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent in what was the last last of several engagements by the royals on Friday.
First Lady of the United States, Jill Biden, whose husband President Joe Biden will not be attending the coronation, was seen speaking with Kate.
Charles was photographed sharing warm words with the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, and greeting Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, with a handshake and a kiss on the cheek.
Other dignitaries at the event included King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, the President of Israel Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
Earlier, the King was joined by realm prime ministers and governors general for a Buckingham Palace lunch and surprised wellwishers on the Mall by greeting royal fans with the Prince and Princess of Wales.
There were 42 at the event, including the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, and prime minister of New Zealand Chris Hipkins.
Guests arrived in the white drawing room before a drinks reception in the music room followed by lunch in the blue drawing room.
Mr Sunak was laughing and chatting with guests while the Princess of Wales, wearing a white dress, spoke to leaders including Mr Albanese and Mr Hipkins.
Kate could be heard chatting about the weather, which is expected to be wet on Saturday.
Later Charles, who is head of the Commonwealth, attended a Commonwealth Heads of Government leaders meeting and garden reception at Marlborough House.
The meeting came after Charles, William and Kate pleased crowds on The Mall with a surprise walkabout.
Charles mingled with leaders at the meeting before they all gathered in the garden for a group photograph with the Commonwealth mace.
Some 100 heads of state will be in London for the coronation on Saturday, with international representatives from 203 countries due to attend.
French president Emmanuel Macron, the presidents of Germany and Italy, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Sergio Mattarella, and Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif will be among those in Westminster Abbey.
Chinese vice-president Han Zheng, who presided over a civil liberties crackdown in Hong Kong, is also on the King’s guest list, a move described as “outrageous” by Conservative MPs.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, in a message ahead of the King’s coronation that the event was an opportunity for “hope and optimism” about the future.
“The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be a moment of extraordinary national pride,” Mr Sunak said.
“Together with friends from across the Commonwealth and beyond, we will celebrate the enduring nature of our great monarchy, its constancy, devotion to duty and service to others.
“No other country could put on such a dazzling display – the processions, the pageantry, the ceremonies and street parties.
“But this is not just a spectacle. It’s a proud expression of our history, culture, and traditions. A vivid demonstration of the modern character of our country and a cherished ritual through which a new era is born.”
The King will be crowned at Westminster Abbey during a coronation ceremony dating back centuries conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
Cries of “God Save the King” will ring out around the abbey after St Edward’s Crown is placed on Charles’ head by Mr Welby.
In a message issued on the eve of the occasion, the senior cleric said the coronation served as “a powerful reflection and celebration of who we are today, in all our wonderful diversity”.
He said people will be struck by the “majesty and sacred wonder” of the service, but also hoped they would find “ancient wisdom and new hope”.
The event will bring together around 100 heads of state, kings and queens from across the globe, celebrities, everyday heroes and family and friends of the couple, with Charles’ estranged son the Duke of Sussex expected to attend.
Invited guests include David and Victoria Beckham, musician Lionel Richie, French President Emmanuel Macron, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, as well as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The day will be a display of pomp and pageantry, with the nation’s Armed Forces promising a “spectacular” event when the King and Queen process through the streets of the capital.
The event is the military’s largest ceremonial operation since Queen Elizabeth’s 1953 coronation, with 9,000 servicemen and women deployed and 7,000 of these performing ceremonial and supporting roles.
(With agencies)
